7 Flat Fee MLS Companies in Michigan to Sell Your FSBO Home

How much does a flat fee MLS service cost in Michigan?

Flat fee MLS services vary in price, depending on the perks you want and how much assistance you need. Most companies will offer a basic package that lists your house on the MLS. From there, the company might charge for everything from longer time on the MLS and higher photo allotments to broker assistance, yard signs, lock boxes, or other features. In general, flat fee MLS services in Michigan cost approximately $95-$2,000.

Flat fee MLS listing companies in Michigan

Here’s a comparison of some flat fee MLS listing companies in Michigan.

Note: Individual program details can change. Please visit a provider’s website for the most current information on rate packages, fees, service areas, and more. HomeLight always recommends doing your own research to determine which selling option is best for your situation.

Which Michigan sellers benefit most from a flat fee MLS service?

Flat fee MLS services may seem like a simple home-selling tool, but they aren’t made for all sellers. According to Justin Glover, a top-selling real estate agent in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the sellers who benefit most from flat fee MLS services are already comfortable selling homes on their own and understand the work that goes into FSBO sales.

“I would say someone who maybe has some background in real estate and contracts would be better suited to do a flat fee MLS listing than someone who has no experience with reading contracts, negotiating, and buying and selling homes,” he explains.

At the same time, Justin Glover says flat fee MLS services aren’t a good fit for sellers who lack time or knowledge about selling homes.

“If you’re willing to give up the service to do a flat fee and just get it on the market and deal with everything yourself, then just be prepared for that,” he says. “And if you’re willing to give up the quality of the way the listing looks and how it’s presented to the market to save money on a flat fee, be prepared for that.”

Pros and cons of using a flat fee MLS listing service

Here are a few of the biggest pros and cons of using a flat fee MLS listing service:

Pros

• You can save on real estate agent commissions.
• You have more control over your home sale.
• Your home is listed as an FSBO seller on the MLS and major search sites.

Cons

• While no longer required due to new commission rules, you may still need to pay the buyer’s agent commission to lock down a sale, which can be 2% to 3% of a home’s final sale price. This will depend on your buyer’s needs and your negotiations.
• To sell successfully on your own, you need to conduct a comparative market analysis, set pricing, prepare for the sale, field calls from potential buyers, negotiate, and fill out paperwork, in addition to other responsibilities involved in selling your home.
• If you don’t understand local disclosure requirements and laws, you could expose yourself to legal risk.

Alternatives to a Flat Fee MLS Service

Flat fee MLS services can be great for experienced FSBO sellers, but they aren’t the best option for everyone. Fortunately, if you’re unsure about using a flat fee MLS company to sell your home, you have options. Here are some alternatives:

Option 1: Flat fee real estate agents

With flat fee real estate agents, you gain the help of a licensed agent and can avoid paying a listing agent’s traditional commission. Instead of taking a commission, a flat fee real estate agent asks for a one-time payment upfront.

You’ll still be paying for the agent’s services, but this route lets you pay a chunk of money at the beginning of your sale. That way, you’ll know how much money you’ll be pocketing at the end of the sale.

However, it’s important to realize that flat fee agents don’t have the incentive of commission to motivate them. That means they may not work as hard to negotiate or land the most profit possible from your home sale.

Also, keep in mind that some sellers still consider paying the standard buyer’s agent fees, despite the new rules on agent commissions, to attract more buyers and expedite home sales. This reduces the savings potential.

Option 2: Selling Your House for Cash

If you want to sell your home fast and aren’t as concerned about receiving top-dollar for your house, you can seek a cash offer from a house-buying company. When you sell for cash, you can sell quickly without handling much of the prep work that typical home sales require. The downside to selling for cash is that you may not receive as high of a price as you could if you listed your home on the market.

One easy and convenient way to sell your home fast for cash is to use HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform. This tool allows you to bypass repairs, showings, and commissions and offers a cash offer in 24 hours. You’re under no obligation to accept offers, but if you do, this method makes it possible to close in as few as 10 days. HomeLight has one of the biggest networks of cash buyers in the country.

Option 3: Discount real estate brokers

If you go with a discount real estate broker, you’ll likely still need to pay a commission. However, discount real estate brokers tend to take lower commissions than full-service agents. They usually provide basic real estate services, such as listing your home on the MLS, marketing your home, and managing paperwork.

These low-cost brokers can be a solid choice if you want to trim costs. Just remember that they tend to make up for low commissions by plowing through as many jobs as possible. That means they may not give you the same attention and support as a full-service real estate agent. Moreover, you may still be compelled to cover the buyer’s agent’s commission to draw in prospective buyers, so don’t forget to factor in that cost when you’re crunching the numbers.

Option 4: Full-service real estate agents

A final and often most cost-effective alternative is hiring a full-service real estate agent. If you hire a full-service real estate agent, you’ll end up paying a commission. However, top-selling agents will handle marketing, market research, pricing, negotiations, paperwork, and other critical home-selling tasks.

Even though you pay commission to these professionals, they usually can secure a higher price on your home than you might receive with other options.

Jay Glover, another top-selling agent who works in partnership with Justin Glover in Grand Rapids, explains, “If we can get your home listed and do all the things that we do and use all our tools, we might be able to net you an even higher amount — even after paying a higher commission — because we’re going to reach a broader audience, we’re going to prepare your home better for market, point out things that we might think are flaws in the home before even putting it on the market, and just make sure it’s a 10 out of 10 when it’s time to actually list it.”

Data suggests sellers who lean on a real estate agent’s help often end up making more money on sales in the long run. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the typical FSBO home sold for $310,000 compared to $405,000 for an agent-assisted home sale.

What’s more, experienced real estate agents may be able to increase your profit even more. Homelight data found real estate agents that perform in the U.S.’s top 5% sell homes for as much as 10% more than average real estate agents.

One of the easiest ways to find a top-selling agent in your area is to use HomeLight’s Agent Match platform. Our platform searches the Michigan housing market and finds real estate agents with a proven track record for selling homes in your area.

Feeling Overwhelmed by the Process of Listing Your Home FSBO in Michigan?

If you don’t have the time or the expertise to list your home FSBO, working with a top agent in Michigan could be your best bet. HomeLight analyzes over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to find you the best agent for your unique situation.

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Sell your Michigan home with confidence

Regardless of your selling option, you’ll want to list your home on the MLS to reach serious buyers. A flat fee MLS allows you to list your house without much outside help. Still, if you’re new to selling on your own, it’s important to understand everything that goes into a FSBO sale and to consider your options carefully. By digging into the specifics of your situation and understanding all the tools you have at your fingertips, you’ll be ready to sell your home in Michigan confidently.

Header Image Source: (Aaron Burden / Unsplash)